Medieval church set to start telling the forgotten stories of women who shaped the town - this Saturday
Did a woman's money pay to build the Holy Sepulchre Church in Northampton? Why is there one woman's name among a list of over 7000 men remembered in the church ? Why does no one know the name of one of the greatest female humanitarians who was born and married in this town? Who was the historical ‘it girl’ with links to the town?
These are questions that the Holy Sepulchre church in Northampton has started to answer. For their March Open Days there will be a focus on the Women Of The Holy Sepulchre and how they may have shaped the church and the town.
Sarah Newton, treasurer at the church said “In my 24 years of visiting the church I know very little of the women who shaped it and were shaped by it. I want to put an end to that. Women make up half of the population yet 0.5 % of recorded history. Women’s stories are often left out of the narrative. So we thought on International Women’s Day we would start telling the stories that have yet to be heard, or at least given the attention they deserve. I feel this will be a lifelong project’
The Women Of The Holy Sepulchre was a project created over a cup of tea after a church service with Dr Siobhan Hyland, historian at the Centre for Historical Studies at the University of Northampton and churchwarden at Holy Sepulchre. Dr Hyland says, "hidden histories are becoming a really important area of research and historical study. It is important to uncover the stories of all those who were involved in the shaping of our world, especially micro-histories such as those centred around Northampton. The Women of Holy Sepulchre Project gives the opportunity to celebrate and expand the understanding of the church and its history, and for the first time, through the lens of the women who worshipped here, celebrated life milestones here and contributed to its history"
March Open Days are:
March 7th- 2pm-4pm
March 17th - 12pm-2pm
March 21st 2pm-4pm and 7pm-8.3o-pm for Candlelight Opening
About the church
The Holy Sepulchre is the oldest building in Northampton, surviving the great fire, one of only 4 round medieval churches in the U.K., and has the longest aisle in Northampton.
The Holy Sepulchre was the first of approximately 20 British medieval round churches to be built, of which only four now exist in their complete form.
For more information contact [email protected] or call and leave a message on 01604 627988.